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Author Topic: Metricification  (Read 359 times)

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Metricification
« on: March 15, 2021, 10:04:07 pm »
Metricification

Just to make a new thread as its an interesting topic.

Oz went metric in 1966 and yet still 55 years later things like peoples height and new born baby's weights are often said in imperial.
Fish tanks, surfboards, tyres & wheel rims, fishing rods, fishing line breaking strain and I could think of a lot more are still often said with imperial measurements, even by younger generations.

The U.S military uses the metric system and every time I read or here about a big drug bust in the U.S its always X amount of 'Kilos' of heroin or cocaine. Lots of rifle and pistol calibres are metric, lots of cars engines are now litres, running races etc are in metres. Pretty sure blood pressure in metric?

The world is definitely a mix of measurements. My dearest friend who has passed away now was a registered surveyor.  Reading some of the old and so archaic surveying terms that they used on plans was a very interesting eye opener on just how bizarre some terms were.
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Re: Metricification
« Reply #1 on: March 16, 2021, 02:46:44 am »
No doubt that the metric will "win" all over eventually, if for nothing else than it´s simplicity.

You guys Down Under were quite late to fully embrace it, and it takes a couple of generations to get it implemented.
Here the switch was made 1907/1912, and now it´s almost completely gone.
Close to all we have left now, is a few hicks like myself who still refers to wood and nails in inches, and small boats generally being measured in feet, as far as i´ve experienced.

Grew up with quite a few old folks around me, and got used to quite a few old scales, so these days i have great fun making myself more backwards and hillbilly´ish when i shop, by using every bit of awkward old measurement i can, when facing someone of the current generation.
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Re: Metricification
« Reply #2 on: March 16, 2021, 06:56:38 am »
Well, at least we got away from Cubits...1 cubit was the length from your elbow to the tip of your middle finger. I am 6 foot 6 inches tall so "my" cubit may be longer than others ::)
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Re: Metricification
« Reply #3 on: March 16, 2021, 07:57:51 am »
I think both are very good depending its use!
Bow and Arrow: LBS = draw weight and Inch = draw length
Guns: .50 Caliber - sounds better that 12,15 mm
       or .357 .44 Magnum much better that 9 or 11 mm
Velocity: fps feet per Second better than meter/second
Weight: 15 grains are 1 gram - it is finer

and I like Inch thread - they are stronger!

Better keep both worlds also for the future :D

Arnold
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Re: Metricification
« Reply #4 on: March 16, 2021, 04:49:54 pm »
And of course the male appendage in length doesn't sound as good in millimetres.
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Re: Metricification
« Reply #5 on: March 16, 2021, 04:59:00 pm »
Quote from: Jim on March 16, 2021, 04:49:54 pm
And of course the male appendage in length doesn't sound as good in millimetres.
This might be a good time to bring back "Furlong" as a unit of measurement. 😄
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Re: Metricification
« Reply #6 on: March 16, 2021, 05:00:16 pm »
Quote from: St Paul Steam on March 16, 2021, 04:59:00 pm
Quote from: Jim on March 16, 2021, 04:49:54 pm
And of course the male appendage in length doesn't sound as good in millimetres.
This might be a good time to bring back "Furlong" as a unit of measurement. 😄

Now that made me laugh !!!!!
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